Saturday, December 24, 2016

NHL-Sized Ice Sheet Added To New Arena:

This is posted on Castanet.net

NHL-sized ice sheet

Kate Bouey - Dec 12, 2016

There will be an NHL-sized sheet of ice and a lot of dressing rooms in the proposed $13-million arena for Vernon which is on schedule and, hopefully, on budget, according to Doug Ross, head of recreation services for the City of Vernon.

In a presentation to council on Monday, Ross presented the current design of the project, by MQN Architects.

The project, which will add a second sheet of ice to Kal Tire Place, is expected to go to tender Jan. 9 with a closing date of Feb. 15.

“At this time, the design team believes that the project is within the budget target," said Ross. "The actual cost to complete the project will only be determined by putting the project out to the construction market.

"Should the project come in over the fixed budget amount, the design team will consider a combination of value engineering and/or negotiations with the preferred contractor to bring the project in on budget."

“Are we selling the naming rights?” asked Coun. Bob Spiers.

“We are currently in the process of doing that,” answered Ross.

While the arena won't have the seating capacity of Kal Tire Place next door, Ross said there would be a 400-seat bleacher area on the eastern side of the building overlooking an NHL-sized ice sheet.

Plans also include six team dressing rooms, including two that would be over-sized and wheelchair accessible allowing future use for sledge hockey players, two referee dressing rooms, a dryland training facility, a meeting room, a minor hockey office and a minor hockey storage area.

The project is planned to be a 15-18 month build with a targeted opening date of Sept. 1, 2018.

1990 & 1991 Vernon Lakers Inducted Into Okanagan Sports Hall Of Fame

The 1969-70 & 1971-72 Vernon Essos were inducted into the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in November 2014

1999 Vernon Vipers Inducted Into BC Hockey Hall Of Fame

The 1999 Vernon Vipers were inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame In July 2016

Kal Tire Place-Home to the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

The Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1982 through the vision of Vernon resident and sports enthusiast, Nick Alexis. With the support of Vernon City Council, Alexis and a dedicated group of volunteers created a series of outdoor exhibits celebrating the region’s dynamic sporting history in Vernon’s Cenotaph Park. That same year, the new organization unveiled its first round of inductees to the Hall of Fame. Several years later, in 2001, the Hall of Fame moved its exhibits into the newly constructed Vernon Multiplex now known as Kal Tire Place.

About Me

I first created this blog in November of 2008. This coming season will be my ninth season doing this blog. I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and have been going to Junior Hockey games in Vernon since I was a young child. I purchased my first set of season tickets in 1990
I have had season tickets for the last 26 years, Since 1990 I have missed 42 home games.
In September of 2009 I missed my first home game since 2002-03 wich my streak of 236 straight Vipers home games came to an end. Ive missed just three Vipers home games since the 1998-1999 season.
I worked with the Vipers back in 2003-04 as colour comentator helping out with a few games over the internet. In 2011 I helped deisgn, create and put together the Vipers new website for the 2011-12 season. I ran and updated the Vipers website for five seasons, keeping all staff bios and pictures updated, adding new game photos, doing a game preview on game days, as well as adding any Vipers news, scores or BCHL news through out the season.
Over the years I have travelled to Victoria, Dauphin & Camrose to watch the Vipers in the RBC Cup. I was also at the 1990 Centennial Cup & 2014 RBC Cup in Vernon.